Akechi Mitsuhide (Unknown–1582)

Akechi Mitsuhide was a general in the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. His children include Gracia, the wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki.

He is believed to have been born in Mino Province [now Gifu Prefecture]. He first served Asakura Yoshikage in Echizen [now northern Fukui Prefecture] and later Oda Nobunaga. Mitsuhide was not only a general but also a well-educated person who knew old customs and manners. He also liked renga (collaborative poetry) and tea ceremony. In September 1568, he accompanied Nobunaga’s first visit to Kyoto and was in charge of the negotiation with the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and court nobles. Also, he was later involved with military affairs with other retainers such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Niwa Nagahide. He served in the Battle of Anegawa (in the area now Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture) and the battle at Katata Fort that occured during the Siege of Shiga in 1570. After the fire attack on Hieizan Enryakuji Temple in 1571, he constructed Sakamoto Castle under the order of Nobunaga. This castle served as a bridgehead against anti-Nobunaga forces in Omi mainly for the surveillance of Enryakuji Temple after the fire attack.

On June 2, 1582, he defeated Lord, Nobunaga, at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto; however, Mitsuhide was defeated by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamazaki. He was reportedly attacked and killed by native troops in Ogurusu (now Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City) on the way back to Sakamoto Castle.